Monday, June 28, 2010

VOICE, TRUTH, ECHOES by Saundra Mitchell

I'm thrilled to welcome Saundra Mitchell to help me launch the first of many guest blogs I'll be hosting over the next month! Saundra's book, Shadowed Summer, was easily one of my 2009 faves and (great news for you!) it was just released in paperback. If you haven't read it already, you totally should!!!

So here she is...Saundra Mitchell:

VOICE, TRUTH, ECHOES

I was lucky enough to read THE BODY FINDER last year, and it's been really hard keeping my mouth shut about it until it came out! Violet's ability to sense the dead was absolutely unique, and Jay is about the best boyfriend in the universe. The story came together in an incredible, unexpected way.

But you know what I loved best?

The text from the killer's point of view. I know, I know, I'm kind of a sick cookie. But here's the thing- I thought it was extraordinary because it was so clear. Kimberly managed to tap into the rational(note: not reasonable!) part of the killer's character that made homicide seem as ordinary and appreciable as a teen would find getting a summer job.

It's not that she apologized, but she made it real. And finding the truth in all characters is what makes a story greater than simply words on the page. I like meeting characters who act like real people, who think honest thoughts, who behave in genuine and earnest ways. And that goes for every character- the heroes and the villains.

Because when I can believe in a villain, I can fear them. My pulse races, I worry about the heroes, I read through my fingers, and flinch when disaster strikes. I exhale my relief when all is well, and I really feel it when they fall in love. No matter how fantastic the world, how unique the magic that's written into it- I have to believe in the characters before I can believe in their gifts.

And Kimberly made me believe, over and over. And for me- for her amazingbook- it started with a killer's whisper.

Okay, since this is our first guest post, don't forget to leave a comment if you want to be entered in the giveaway for an ARC of Firelight by Sophie Jordan, a signed copy of The Body Finder, and a bunch of awesome swag, including a sweet TEAM JAY t-shirt! The first round of guest posts wraps up on July 16th!

And if you want to order Shadowed Summer (trust me, you won't be disappointed!), you can find it here, here, here, and here.

71 comments:

Saundra I totally agree. The glimpse into the villian's psyche is amazing. You can feel that he doesn't find his own feelings odd. It's CREEPY! Which, in the case of the character, is a good thing. I haven't read Shadowed Summer yet, but it sounds great. I've added it to my "pick up" list for my next bookstore trip. :o)

I have read The Body Finder, and I do agree that Jay is a very supportive boyfriend. Violet was a relatable protagonist, and I liked reading from the killer's POV, mainly because I wanted to know what he thought about Violet.

I agree SO much. One of my friends also read The Body Finder and the first thing we talked about when she finished it was how creepy the villain chapters were. I could feel the dude hiding in someone's bushes or driving through town looking for his next victim. Very eerie.

I haven't read Shadowed Summer yet, but have been meaning to for a while now. It sounds fantastic!

I think we already have an ARC of Firelight on it's way over to us, so don't enter us in the contest, but I just wanted to say that we can wait to read Shadowed Summer! Although, I'm a little freaked out that Saundra liked the serial killer text! That part totally freaked me out. I felt all creepy, crawly when I read it.

Yeezz, Reading Saundra's post, just make feel sick about me, because I havent read the Body Finder yet!!! But I must and I will!! thanks so mucho for the post and looking forward to read The Body Finder!!

I love love loved the Body Finder. I agree with the killer aspect being one of the best parts, it was sickening to read about him contemplating which girl he was going to take and how he was taking them. But at the same time, it made the story feel real, you as a reader, are getting every side of the story not just Violet's side of attempting to track this murderer. I alsoo LOVE the chemistry between Jay and Violet, I think it is wonderful and a feeling that almost everyone can relate to!! =]

Omg Sandra its like were twins! Everything you said I totally agree on about TBF. It was so refreshing to read a book with realistic characters. Even more so that the paranormal was only a spice to the plot and not dominating! I can't wait for the second one. I wanna read your book soooo badly but my work can't seem to order it. *cries* I really hope they figure it out soon!

Hmm, I sorta-kinda agree with you ! Although I did love Violet's POV, the villian's POV made me freak out and it felt more real. I ended up being paranoid during those moments when I was reading his POV. Awesome guest post!

Now I definitely want to read this book. I've often wondered what makes a killer tick. I also appreciate the perspective on believable characters. It gives me something to strive for as I write my first novel.

Yes, I agree about the killer's POV!!! It really spiced the novel up and as you said, make it seem totally rational in a sick, twisted way! I also really loved and hated knowing that he was coming for Violet...and she didn't know! GAH, suspenseful much? LOL.I've got Shadowed Summer on my TBR list :DCheers!Emma :)

"The text from the killer's point of view. I know, I know, I'm kind of a sick cookie. But here's the thing- I thought it was extraordinary because it was so clear. Kimberly managed to tap into the rational(note: not reasonable!) part of the killer's character that made homicide seem as ordinary and appreciable as a teen would find getting a summer job."

This is what made the book so intriguing. Can't wait for the next book!

I agree with her. I love the killer's pov. It makes the story a whole lot more interesting and dynamic. I also can relate to really believing in the characters. I really feel like I'm there with then so I flinch and cry and swoon right along with them.

i'm not yet finished reading TBF, but i hope i love it as much as everyone i know did. i love the premise of the novel, and the fact that violet can find dead people is definitely cool and unlike any paranormal YA book i've read

Awesome guest post.I now have to read The Body Finder. I love books to were you can actually imagine yourself in them and they seem so real and this seems like one of those books.rdnckgrl0506@gmail.com

I totally agree. If I don't feel like I've gotten to know the characters enough, then I find it hard to really care about what happens to them. And when it came to the villain in The Body Finder, I actually was frightened because I knew who he was and what he was capable of, and you really don't get that often in the novels I've read.

It has been a while since I read The Body Finder, but reading your post made me remember how wonderful the book is and now I just want to rush home and read it again. I was shocked when I saw the first post from the killer, but it really did give a great look into his mind. I can't even imagine how you would begin to think like a murderer, but Kimberly nailed it beautifully! I can't wait for Desires of the Dead!!!

P.S.- I finally read Shadowed Summer last week and I absolutely loved it!!! Will there be a sequel?

I like to read about characters who act like real people too! I mean it is fun to read about superheros but I like it when the characters are relatable in some sort of way. I have Shadowed Summer on my TBR list and will get to it soon.

I totally get what you mean about the killer's point of view. There's a part of you that's like, "This is so wrong and creepy and freaky." Then there's another part of you that's like, "This is sooooooo good." The killer's POV is part of what draws you in. (:

Oh, and I have yet to read Shadowed Summer, so I shall put it on my reading list! (:

Great guest post! I love when the villain is done right...my heart races, I get that fluttery feeling in the pit of my stomach and find myself holding my breath--reading faster and faster until the hero/heroine is safe. The more twisted POV of the villain the more creeped out I feel and that just makes me enjoy the book that much more! I have one book I read so many times I broke the spine and still, to this day I still feel that creepiness when I read that book!

Great guest post ^_^. And I agree with you characters and their voices are what make me love a story, the more characters that I love in a story, show, movie the more I will want to learn more about them and the more I will want to read or watch.

Saundra, if you area sick cookie, then I am too. I think it is always the most interesting to see the evil's point of view, and must be one of the most hard things to write for an author because it is easy to make the villain a one dimensional arch-evil, but to make them complex and layered it truly requires talent. And to give that chill even with all of that, art!

Congratulations, Shgadowed Summer looks great (the cover is beautifully chilling!)

I absolutely loved the killers perspective in the body finder. It gives the reader insight to a different type of thinking. It also gives the reader a break from the narrator which I always love. I will have to check out Shadowed Summer :)